Seeking herbal medicine or other home remedies for cystic acne

I have an acquaintance with cystic acne, large lumps with no heads, who is looking for treatments that can be tried at home instead of going to a dermatologist to have the cysts drained every time they appear. I am thinking astringent, antibacterials, and drawing poultices, but I would love anecdotal success stories and any particulars. Honey, witch hazel, or perhaps tea tree essential oil diluted in olive oil?

Cystic acne stems from the inside of your body. No amount of topical treatments will quell it. Being a condition that scars terribly, please encourage your friend to see a dermatologist. There are good medications to eliminate the condition. One young man I knew whose face screamed red all over from cystic acne was miraculously transformed with the antibiotic vancomycin. My niece was allergic to sulfa drugs, so vancomycin did not work for her, but Accutane did. I suffered from type 2 rosacea (there are four types or stages), which gave me cystic acne here and there (I was in my 30s — if you still have acne in your 30s, it’s likely rosacea), and my dermatologist wasn’t able to help medication wise but he did suggest I identify foods triggering my rosacea, which I did, and the cystic part stopped. I highly recommend Bach Rescue Cream, a homeopathic cream. It’s wonderfully soothing and draws out clogged pores or pustules. Best of health to your friend.

I'd not heard of cystic acne, and having looked it up am sorry for your friend. I get sebacious cysts on my scalp, but these are not painful or infected, just annoying!

Trying to find some information leads to a UK acne support charity. From that site:

acne is primarily caused by sticky dead skin cells from the lining of a hair follicle clumping together due to an overproduction of keratin by your skin. These clumps may then mix with the oil being produced by the follicle’s sebaceous gland and form a blockage. Bacteria can then grow in the blockage and lead to inflamed acne.

They do say there is a genetic tendency to acne. That it is not caused by lack of hygiene, but hormone activity can be a factor - teenage boys and older women tend to be more likely to be affected. I suspect the best approach will depend on your friend's sex and age.
This thread may be worth a  look - it's a bit old but acne is a perennial problem! I would suggest not to expect a miracle cure, that it may take months to see a difference.

I suffered with this all through my teen years! It was terrible. I do not reccomend antibiotics as they killed my gut microbiome and it suffered permanent damage. I do recommend avoiding dairy, sugar, nightshades, onions, garlic, anything non-organic, preservatives, and also to ferment all grains. I do not recommend topicals, creams, or soaps, just pure water (distilled, or clean rainwater, also for drinking too). Salt exfoliation works to help clear up old scars.

Harmony Dybala wrote:I have an acquaintance with cystic acne, large lumps with no heads, who is looking for treatments that can be tried at home instead of going to a dermatologist to have the cysts drained every time they appear. I am thinking astringent, antibacterials, and drawing poultices, but I would love anecdotal success stories and any particulars. Honey, witch hazel, or perhaps tea tree essential oil diluted in olive oil?

When I get questions about this, I always ask what they eat. Any kind of healing starts with eating the foods your body needs. You need a strong immune system, so your body can start producing the antibodies it needs to get rid of the infection. Lots of foods has antibiotic properties. i don't tolerate regular antibiotics so when i get an infection my naturapath sends a sample to a lab and finds the right herbal recipe to clear the infection.
There can be many different reasons for getting acne, that a Naturapathic doctor can help figure out. It can be diet, as I mentioned before, but hormones, skin care, malnutrition and lifestyle also plays a factor.
Its hard to treat anything if you don't find the root cause first. Once you know why this is happening, its much easier to treat.
My suggestion is that you have a talk with your doctor about figuring it out. if you want to go the natural way, find a doctor of integrated medicine or a Naturapath.
I know its hard, but its important to advocate for your self. Don't just let them send you away with a proscription. It takes determination and strong will to get diagnosed. If one doctor won't do it, fire him and find a different one. Some doctors forget that they are working for us, not the other way around.

I'd be careful about relying on herbal remedies alone for cystic acne, especially when the lumps are deep, painful, and keep coming back. Natural treatments may help soothe irritated skin, but they don't always address the underlying cause.

For a gentle home approach, I'd start with a mild cleanser, a clean warm compress for comfort, and a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturiser. Avoid squeezing the cysts or applying undiluted tea tree oil, garlic, or strong vinegar mixtures, as these can irritate the skin and make things worse.
I also think it's worth looking at hormonal factors and keeping a simple record of possible food or lifestyle triggers rather than cutting out lots of foods unnecessarily. Good skin care is about protecting the skin barrier, not stripping away all its natural oils.

Hubby used to get them, all the time, and it turns out, they were almost entirely food & allergy (a group of metal allergies) triggered. Before we figured out the cause, I made a drawing salve*, to help heal them, quickly. Before the salve, they could take up to a month to go from 'I feel it coming on' to no longer draining/ starting to heal. The salve cut that time to less than a week, and included healing. Now that we know what triggered his, and have eliminated the triggers, he rarely gets them at all, anymore. As in, before, he could have 2 to 6 at once, and now, I can't remember the last time.


*I haven't made it in a awhile but it has activated charcoal, bentonite clay, tallow, beeswax, and frankincense essential oil. If anyone wants the recipe, I'm happy to share, as long as it is not used for profit.

I agree with the food/allergy response.

Fried foods and cola drinks mostly per a dermatologist.

I occasionally get one and I use moist heat to lower the swelling.